jedimaster91
11-21-2008, 11:38 PM
So, I started my Nuclear Pharmacy rotation this week. I've been looking forward to this for months as (I thought) this was what I wanted to do. No patients, no coworkers if I don't feel like talking, and a nice six-figure salary. I was ready to deal with six to eight more years of school, student loans, moving away from my family, and calculus (:cry:), but I was not prepared to meet safety procedures.
Nuclear Pharmacy entails the creation of imaging agents used for scans. Since the imaging agents are radioactive, there are a lot of techniques and procedures to reduce exposure to the pharmacists. Most of the safety equipment involves a LOT of lead, and lead is HEAVY. So let me go through them one by one.
The Hood. Basically an L-block (http://www.capintec.com/products/l_block_mini.jpg) in a box of thick plastic and leaded glass. Like this (http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/319/55017896rs0.png). Kind of awkward to work in since the doses are manipulated behind the L-block, but that wasn't the issue. The issue is, I'm short; only 5'2." I have trouble seeing over the L-block because theirs is set up so high. And they don't have a step stool. That's a bit of a minor gripe, but I suspect it is a big part of my problem.
Vial Shields (http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/319/55017896rs0.png). Made of lead or tungsten and VERY HEAVY. I'd estimate the big elution vials to be around 15 pounds, kit vials maybe 5 pounds. I do have puny arm muscles, but the weight isn't the issue. It's how the vial has to be held. In order to reduce radiation exposure to the hands, the vial has to be held from the TOP. Not the side or bottom, which would give more support. Not to mention it's thick and awkward to hold. My arm still feels like jello.
Different syringe shields (http://www.supertechx-ray.com/a5390a.jpg). Much more awkward and heavy than the normal variety (http://www.inderlec.com.au/netcat_files/116_123.jpg). Again, to reduce exposure to the hands, these shields have a lead disk on the needle end making it top-heavy. They also don't have a very good locking mechanism which makes hanging onto the syringe and shield difficult. Especially when the hand should have as little direct contact with the thing as possible. Basically, the index finger rests along the plunger end of the shield, thumb holds the barrel of the syringe, and the plunger is maniplulated with the middle and ring fingers. My hand really isn't big enough to do this without frying it with radiation. But honestly, I'd take higher exposure just to be able to work the frakking thing. Which brings me to my next point.
Negative pressure. The vial acts like a vaccum which keeps the radioactivity from spraying everywhere when a dose is drawn out. Great for preventing contamination, bad for controlling a plunger with one finger. Particularly with the 10cc syringe, I just couldn't hang on to the plunger. This fact caused two Quality Control proceedures to fail because the activity kept getting sucked into a saline vial instead of staying in the syringe where it belonged. And I accidentally sprayed the hood trying to get a needle cap off.
Most of me knows it's all a matter of practice. But after such a shaky start, my confidence is pretty shot. I feel like a first year student in my first rotation again instead of someone who will be graduating in May. Granted. my degree is in Nuclear Medicine Technology, not Pharmacy, but there is a possibility that I could get a job somewhere that still makes the kits instead of getting doses from a central pharmacy. I'm not sure if I'm relieved or upset that I'm starting out so badly and second guessing my career choice.
Nuclear Pharmacy entails the creation of imaging agents used for scans. Since the imaging agents are radioactive, there are a lot of techniques and procedures to reduce exposure to the pharmacists. Most of the safety equipment involves a LOT of lead, and lead is HEAVY. So let me go through them one by one.
The Hood. Basically an L-block (http://www.capintec.com/products/l_block_mini.jpg) in a box of thick plastic and leaded glass. Like this (http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/319/55017896rs0.png). Kind of awkward to work in since the doses are manipulated behind the L-block, but that wasn't the issue. The issue is, I'm short; only 5'2." I have trouble seeing over the L-block because theirs is set up so high. And they don't have a step stool. That's a bit of a minor gripe, but I suspect it is a big part of my problem.
Vial Shields (http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/319/55017896rs0.png). Made of lead or tungsten and VERY HEAVY. I'd estimate the big elution vials to be around 15 pounds, kit vials maybe 5 pounds. I do have puny arm muscles, but the weight isn't the issue. It's how the vial has to be held. In order to reduce radiation exposure to the hands, the vial has to be held from the TOP. Not the side or bottom, which would give more support. Not to mention it's thick and awkward to hold. My arm still feels like jello.
Different syringe shields (http://www.supertechx-ray.com/a5390a.jpg). Much more awkward and heavy than the normal variety (http://www.inderlec.com.au/netcat_files/116_123.jpg). Again, to reduce exposure to the hands, these shields have a lead disk on the needle end making it top-heavy. They also don't have a very good locking mechanism which makes hanging onto the syringe and shield difficult. Especially when the hand should have as little direct contact with the thing as possible. Basically, the index finger rests along the plunger end of the shield, thumb holds the barrel of the syringe, and the plunger is maniplulated with the middle and ring fingers. My hand really isn't big enough to do this without frying it with radiation. But honestly, I'd take higher exposure just to be able to work the frakking thing. Which brings me to my next point.
Negative pressure. The vial acts like a vaccum which keeps the radioactivity from spraying everywhere when a dose is drawn out. Great for preventing contamination, bad for controlling a plunger with one finger. Particularly with the 10cc syringe, I just couldn't hang on to the plunger. This fact caused two Quality Control proceedures to fail because the activity kept getting sucked into a saline vial instead of staying in the syringe where it belonged. And I accidentally sprayed the hood trying to get a needle cap off.
Most of me knows it's all a matter of practice. But after such a shaky start, my confidence is pretty shot. I feel like a first year student in my first rotation again instead of someone who will be graduating in May. Granted. my degree is in Nuclear Medicine Technology, not Pharmacy, but there is a possibility that I could get a job somewhere that still makes the kits instead of getting doses from a central pharmacy. I'm not sure if I'm relieved or upset that I'm starting out so badly and second guessing my career choice.